Data Analysis Tools & Methods

Pyramid Servings Database for NHANES III

NCI developed a database to facilitate the examination
of dietary data from the National
Center for Health Statistics' Third National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-94) in terms
of servings from each of The
Food Guide Pyramid's major and minor food groups. This database
builds on a similar one, previously developed by the
USDA Food Surveys Research Group for their 1994-96 Continuing
Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). That database
provides the number of servings from each food group per 100 gm
of each food reported in the CSFII. The foods reported
in the NHANES III were initially coded using USDA food codes
to provide a direct match to the CSFII database. Those foods
reported in NHANES III which were not included in the CSFII
Pyramid Servings Database (PSDB) were either linked to similar
foods already appearing in the CSFII PSDB or ascribed values when
suitable matches could not be found.